Introduction: two smart investments for autumn 2025
As farmers plan for the remaining months of the year, practical steps that deliver solid returns while supporting environmental goals become especially valuable. Enda Geoghegan, Climate and Sustainability Advisor with Teagasc in Ballina, Mayo, highlights two targeted actions for autumn 2025: spreading lime to optimise soil health and grass growth, and analysing silage to ensure feed quality and animal performance. Together, these measures can improve profitability and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making them a win for both farm finances and the climate.
Action 1: Spread lime to boost soil health and productivity
With beef, sheep, and dairy incomes expected to improve in 2025, farmers may have greater capacity to reinvest in land. Spreading lime stands out as one of the most cost-effective investments. Maintaining soil pH at optimal levels (about pH 6.3 on most clay soils) allows the same amount of grass to be produced with less fertiliser, delivering a strong return on investment for both drystock and dairy farms.
Lime’s benefits extend beyond immediate yields. By raising soil pH, grass utilisation improves, fertiliser needs decline, and livestock weight gain and milk yield can increase. These effects translate into lower greenhouse gas emissions, aligning farm profitability with environmental stewardship.
Key benefits of spreading lime include releasing soil nitrogen (up to 70 kg N per hectare per year), boosting grass growth by 10–15%, and delivering a strong economic return—roughly €5 back on a drystock farm and €7 on a dairy farm for every €1 spent. These outcomes contribute to lower input costs and better herd performance, while also supporting emissions reduction through reduced chemical nitrogen use.
Practical timing considerations matter, even if not every farm will act immediately. When planning lime, remember:
- Silage fields should have enough time between lime application and silage closing to avoid preservation issues.
- Slurry applications should precede lime by 7–10 days to prevent nitrogen losses of up to 50%.
- Wait three months between lime and applying unprotected urea or slurry; protected urea can be used on limed fields in trials showing safety.
Action 2: Silage analysis to safeguard feed quality and farm economics
Silage analysis has become an essential tool for ensuring livestock perform at their best. High-quality silage delivers the right balance of energy, protein, and minerals, reducing the reliance on expensive concentrate feeds. With concentrate costs typically ranging from €340 to €420 per tonne, improving silage quality is a direct lever on farm feasibility and profitability.
For context, consider the cost implications of silage quality. If fifty weanlings are fed 120 days on 66% DMD (digestible matter) silage, they may require around 1.8 kg of concentrate per day to achieve 0.6 kg/day weight gain. On 75% DMD silage, the same animals need roughly 0.4 kg/day—an impressive saving of 1.4 kg/day per animal. Across a winter, this totals about 8.4 tonnes of concentrate saved, equating to thousands of euros at current feed prices.
In 2025, silage analysis is also tied to the Suckler Welfare Scheme, underscoring its role in national farming programs. After receiving analysis results, farmers should sit down with their advisor to review findings and identify practical steps to improve silage quality and animal performance.
Putting it into action: a combined strategy for profitability and sustainability
Spreading lime and conducting silage analysis are complementary actions that reinforce farm resilience. Lime improves soil health, grass growth, and feed quality indirectly by supporting robust pastures, while silage analysis directly informs feed planning, reduces dependence on expensive concentrates, and lowers methane intensity per unit of product through improved animal efficiency.
For October planning, prioritise both steps as part of a broader climate and sustainability strategy. The Teagasc Signpost Advisory Programme, led by Enda Geoghegan in Mayo, supports farmers with tailored advice and training to implement climate actions that fit their farms. By combining practical soil management with data-driven feed evaluation, farms can achieve better economic returns and contribute to a lower-carbon farming system.
Final note: practical, cost-effective actions for 2025
In short, spreading lime and analysing silage are accessible, cost-effective avenues to boost profitability while supporting environmental objectives. As the year progresses, these actions should be on every farm advisory checklist—simple steps with meaningful, measurable outcomes.
